Interborough Express inches closer to becoming reality

The multi-billion dollar light rail line would connect Brooklyn and Queens, shortening the travel time between the boroughs. CBS New York's Elijah Westbrook has an update on the project.

[@aaronburt6582]

IBX will be huge for Brooklyn and queens and really benefits all of the city since it connects so many subway lines

[@trainrover]

bs .. these advancers' body language ALONE is indicative enough of their criminality at practicing kleptoparasitism though, you eee 💡💡💡 plus, we ourselves here due north of the big apple there have been lumped poxy robo shuttles for our own express suburban overground (whereas our metro is entirely underground), and you'd have reckoned what with exponentially digital wizardry coupled to the addition of either a single or a pair of passing loops at halts, we could've been truly graced with even super-duper express diagrammings...so folks' heapings of praise on the cheapest strain of boardroom decision making will forever mystify me, won't it now . . .

[@trainrover]

I couldn't have imagined our replacement of the world's recreational subway -- the Expo-Express hailing the advent of robo shuttles nearly 60 years ago -- ever becoming the likes of some inter-borough tram: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpetlp-Mo6-ngqc

[@trainrover]

these cuckoos maliciuosly dangling _their_ $5½ B price tag cheekily hauled up from their bargain basement...

[@trainrover]

even their over-built renderings bandied here remind you of Flash-Gordon mettle of yore..don't they..fuck..?

[@IndustrialParrot2816]

It might be too busy for light rail

[@xivinrah]

I really feel like this should’ve been a heavy rail- consistent with the existing subway system. We could’ve easily put train cars into service, but because its light rail, it now needs an entirely different type of rail car with different equipment altogether. It’s also going to be much slower and be overcrowded upon completion.

[@lawrencelewis2592]

I like light rail systems but I think you are right.

[@TheRandCrews]

Probably even should be commuter rail so it can use hells gate bridge alongside freight, Amtrak, and metro north

[@muhilan8540]

@@TheRandCrews commuter rail is heavy rail

[@TheRandCrews]

@@muhilan8540 I mean some people put heavy rail as commuter rail and subways, just trying to create a distinction

[@lolgod1695]

No idea what they were thinking, I feel like they're making this take longer than it needs to/taking more money than they need to But hey at least at the end of the day New York will be a better city with the IBX

[@carlbro1]

It would've been nice if it was a subway line instead of some tram because it works more with the ridership that's its going to have

[@LiamMartens]

LRT is a pretty decent option especially since they may be able to utilize some existing infrastructure. Just look at how long it took to get the 2nd Ave Subway built

[@muhilan8540]

it should be above ground heavy rail

[@lecho0175]

@@muhilan8540 I'm still baffled that New York doesn't have an RER system

[@muhilan8540]

@@lecho0175 I mean there’s path, njt, metro north, and lirr. The only thing missing is through-running but you can’t really do that because of the state boundaries

[@TheCinderDude]

@@muhilan8540 you can. politics aside, the biggest issue would be the use of the old tunnel across the Hudson. Once the new one is built, they should prioritize through running

[@foisixes677]

We love to see it. Hopefully they can extend this into The Bronx next

[@Thelastairbendy]

hold your horses

[@Atrail_Mckinley4786]

Won't happen

[@pacificostudios]

Unfortunately, there is only room for one more track on Hell Gate Bridge.

[@coolboss999]

The Bronx isn't fit to have light rail to go thru it. And unless they build a new bridge for the light rail, it would have to go thru Hell Gates Bridge which is already locked in.

[@joermnyc]

MTA doesn’t own the tracks past a certain point beyond the last stop, that’s why the original section to the Bronx was dropped. It was either this or the proposed Metro North line into Penn Station.

[@PhilliesNostalgia]

Light rail? This should just be another NYC Subway line, that can have a much larger capacity, and maybe new services can run onto the IBX, but that ain’t happening with light rail being chosen

[@GobbiExists]

There are many constraints with choosing heavy rail, mainly expanding tracks, and I don’t think the MTA wants to expand those tracks because of money and they would need a lot more space. Light rail doesn’t need as much space, and light rail rolling stock is a lot cheaper and there are many more manufacturers that sell light rail vehicles than metro/heavy rail. Plus, the routing of the IBX has to go on the street for a few blocks, probably due to how narrow the tracks are. Light rail can go fast and go in narrow corridors better than metro trains. I wish the IBX would be a fully-fledged subway line, would be better for literally everyone

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

@@GobbiExists Light rail means different maintenance and training facilities from heavy rail; space hasta be found for a new yard somewhere.

[@busfannerchris]

2027 is a stretch. Right now everything is surprisingly on track. The environmental review + design process will take 2-3 years, then it will take 3-5 years to build. If people don't complain too much & the cost doesn't go up it should be done by 2030 the earliest.

[@skrakaayyyyy_itzyostep]

Right

[@JJN631]

More like 10 years to build

[@pizzajona]

Agreed, although 2030 is pretty soon and much faster than if it had been heavy rail

[@bigzclipz5104]

@@skrakaayyyyy_itzyosteplmao nyc is a complete joke . In east Asia and Middle East they’ll get it done quickly

[@wlpaul4]

I actually started laughing when they said 2027. If they had accidentally slipped and said 2077, I would have thought it reasonable.

[@edwardmiessner6502]

Hopefully they'll be using high-floor LRV trolleys and building high-platform stations like the ones in Los Angeles, Buffalo, or San Francisco.

[@yolo_burrito]

Yeah level boarding improves dwell time.

[@edwardmiessner6502]

@@yolo_burrito Exactly. Makes for faster trains.

[@durece100]

What's wrong with low floor platforms? You never been riding a light rail before.

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

@@durece100 ....Takes too long to load, the trains hafta move more slowly, they cou,d be maintenance nightmares, etc....

[@boguette_]

The IBX is gonna be amazing, but I still believe that having light rail as the chosen method of transportation is a bummer. This is going to be one of the first light rail services put into NYC, and as it was shown with the NJ Transit light-rail, its slow. I hope it will come with CBTC or another type of modern signaling to speed up service. Anyways, I'm really excited for this. The 2nd-Avenue Subway is already being constructed, but that cost is too much. This one is still VERY expensive, but it is still better because it just adds a few platforms and sets of track.

[@litkeys3497]

Heavy rail would give better performance but I suspect it might require track upgrades that the MTA can't keep up with. I'd rather have light rail now than heavy rail god knows when

[@edwardfr4]

As an everyday rider for 3 years, here in Baltimore city our light rail is very fast. It is efficient when running at street level in most areas. But the service seems managed poorly (missing trains). train exploded, now it’s shut down😔

[@maxlinder5262]

Using already laid down tracks .... Good idea..... Not having to bust through anything established......😊

[@TheRandCrews]

I think those tracks would have to be replaced, reinforced, for higher operating speed being from a freight line, but maybe not much due to low use. Though it should be noted, they need to widened that tunnel under All Faiths Cemetery going from 4 tracks to 1 track in that degenerate, leading to street running in that portion

[@DerrickTan74]

Not just this, we also should reactivate the Rockaway Beach Branch as well, not turn the ROW into a park! Queenslink ftw!

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

YUP! It could be extended from the Rockaway Peninsula, or branched off from the Broadway line....

[@xixi560]

Light rail!? Wtf. That must change, absolutely insanity. Can see from a mile away (well from Australia) that this needs to be heavy rail, either subway or some other rapid transit. Unless it's going to be legitimately high capacity with light rail just so that they can use the existing infrastructure and mitigate property acquisition costs, but they really need to do it right if so.

[@DDELE7]

If the MTA insists on using smaller light rail style trains then they should follow the Montreal REM model. Fully walk through completely automated trains that could arrive as quickly as every 90 seconds. Those trains are smaller than what’s used currently on the New York Subway BUT with those frequencies you make up for the size difference very easily. What I hope the MTA doesn’t do is try to replicate what they built in Ottawa with their Line 1. Beautiful system but the wrong type of trains. And it’s had a bunch of technical issues since it first opened. AND PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR TRACKS ARE PROPERLY SPACED OUT UNLIKE WHAT THEY DID IN BOSTON!

[@amazing50000]

I think that will be one of the plans, to have light rail cars like Montreal REM. One of the reasons why they picked light rail is because of the lack of manufacturers for heavy rail. Light rail manufacturers are plentiful.

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

@@amazing50000 Btw, the same manufacturers of light rail equipment also manufacture heavy rail equipment; NO EXCUSES THERE.

[@holzman00]

Desperately needed

[@Hahlen]

My only concern with this project is that light rail doesn’t seem like the best mode. If it’s in a heavy rail corridor anyway why not just…use heavy rail? This is such a useful service that I suspect light rail will be overwhelmed by demand in the not-too-distant future.

[@jeffreysnyder290]

I hate our nomenclature here in the US. “Heavy rail” = “subway” = “metro” (Europe). I think you’re advocating using conventional rail like the LIRR, which can share the track with freight. Subway trains were never on the table because even having separate subway tracks in the same right of way as the freight lines was problematic. I don’t know why they chose light rail over electrified conventional rail, though.

[@jeffreysnyder290]

@Mr.DeStylez Apparently they need to street run around a tiny section of cemetery, including two ~90 degree turns, and that's really the entire reason they're going with LRT. 🤷‍♂

[@wrong1029]

These are the type of projects I like seeing. Great economic investment.

[@yunleung2631]

this will revolutionize NYC.

[@terryaltherr2481]

2 years? That's impressive, especially when you compare it to the Second Ave. Subway (which tbh is probably beneficial but should've been built when it was a lot easier -and cheaper- to build it)

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

That 2nd avenue line should've been built as soon as the 3rd avenue el came down.

[@pacificostudios]

LRT is a good choice for the IBX unless ridership projections suggest it can support a heavy rail option. LRT stations can be much less expensive than heavy rail ones, simply because they don't require an overhead bridge to get across the tracks. Most of the San Diego LRT system runs on active freight tracks, which is why all stations have low-platforms and the trains have low floors with built-in wheelchair ramps. It's a great system.

[@obifox6356]

Ridership is in heavy rail range. Over 118K predicted weekday riders. San Diego’s light rail system is 4x as long on 4 routes with less total riders. Crossing tracks with IBX frequency would be crazy. Stairs will be necessary because stations will be above or below ground level.

[@pacificostudios]

@@obifox6356 - Then automated metro might be a good choice. The Canada Line in Vancouver carries about that many passengers. It runs every 3 minutes and is driverless. The Canada Line stations are only three cars long. The new Honolulu stations are about four cars long. Major savings with such small stations.

[@obifox6356]

@@pacificostudios Automated metro would be better, but like #1 line in Paris. 3 or 4 cars trains are probably too small for IBX ridership.

[@EbuzzNYC]

You don't have to go far, we have that in the AirTrain, no? @@pacificostudios

[@NeonNion]

​@@obifox6356 Tbh, 118k daily is within LRT system capabilities. Still, though, I think they should've opted either for commuter rail or metro rail standard. Those would have a lot more headroom for increased passenger numbers and would offer higher ride quality. Small LRT cars do also have tendancy to get overcrowded much more easily.

[@weenisw]

Since they’re not going to build the right type of rail they may as well not bother. It will sabotage future flexibility or have to be rebuilt properly later, wasting tons of money on shortsighted planning

[@cliffwoodbury5319]

It is obvious that THIS IS A MUST BUILD!!!! With its realization it will be obvious to riders more lines that circumvent Manhattan are monumental changes that will totally change the city for the better.

[@cpcxgsr]

I live in NJ (Jersey City). If IBX is going to be operated like the NJ Transit Light Rail, it will FAIL immediately. NJT Light Rail system in theory is great for cities like NYC. But in actuality, it's the complete opposite. Why? Because NJT operates the Light Rail on an "honor's system". You buy a ticket either with an App or buy a physical ticket stub at the station. You then board the train and you get to your destination. No ticket agents are EVER on the train to check if passengers paid for their fare... NYC MTA is already bad enough with fare beaters, what would you think would happen if NYC operates a new train system that is based on an Honor's system? NJ as a state loses out on so much renvue for the Light Rail... Kids would literally hop on and hop off... That's almost $3 per ride that the State is losing out on... NJT doesn't even have enough ticket agents to check every passenger. Fare beaters would literally hop off the next station when they see Transit police or ticket agents on the train.. Wait couple minutes and hop on the next train when they know the police/agents are gone... If NYC wants to go bankrupt, this is a sure way to it

[@Hypestrike1]

One aspect this report didn't mention was the All Faiths Cemetery issue. In the Middle Village, the existing ROW passes under a section of the All Faiths Cemetery via a tunnel that, for reasons that don't make sense to me, cannot be retrofitted with catenary or infrastructure to support light rail. Because the MTA would rather not spend the money to reconstruct the tunnel (which is quite short), their means of bypassing the cemetery is to bring the IBX tracks up to grade onto Metropolitan Avenue, zig-zag around several blocks as it shares the streets with vehicular traffic, before returning below grade to continue along the original route. After light rail being the chosen mode, this is the second stupidest decision the MTA has made concerning the IBX project. Why cause problems for traffic and the streets in Middle Village- which were not designed to be shared with light rail- when it would be more beneficial long term to just reconstruct a short tunnel so the route continues uninterrupted and doesn't impact the neighborhood?

[@Richard-by5gm]

@@Hypestrike1 You are right.. Build a tunnel underneath the cemetery.

[@Lucius_Chiaraviglio]

Multiple billions of dollars for an insufficient capacity and insufficient speed light rail line? They should have used a heavy rail regional service line for this, or at least made it another elevated metro line.

[@whiskeykilo2h429]

With what currency? And what about the subway tunnel connecting Staten Island ?

[@MrKongDavidNow]

They really should have extended it into the Bronx

[@tastyorange]

It's about time.

[@pimpnamedslickback7780]

This will be a game changer

[@TSgotstolengoddamm]

the investment into lightrail is questionable however at least its just a rail line and if designed correctly can be easily upgraded to use equipment from the subways

[@EbuzzNYC]

I don't think it can be "easily upgraded", the infrastructure for heavy rail is completely different.

[@TSgotstolengoddamm]

@@EbuzzNYC im relatively uneducated however the only difference is maybe wider gauge track the use of 3rd rail and less tight curves (or utilize A division stock) or maybe im missing something go correct me

[@EbuzzNYC]

I believe it's also the stations, bridges, and rail bed need to be done capable of withstanding the extra weight@@TSgotstolengoddamm

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

@@EbuzzNYC The ONLY "complete difference" is the methods of power delivery between the two rail modes.

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

@@TSgotstolengoddamm The track gauge (4 feet 8.5 inches) will be the same. The power supply, however, will be different between the two. Light rail uses an overhead wire.

[@clevernamegotban1752]

Should have been heavy rail, could've went back to the LIRR like it was back in the 1920's.

[@kemoblue4u]

Sucks it's not heavy rail but it's better than nothing and well needed

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

As long as it's NOT some damned BUSWAY!!

[@TommyTheWalker]

Since freight service is sporadic, why not reconfigure the freight trains to use light rail freight trains since parts are readily available and cost is lower? Basically have longer freight trains since the light rail trains have a smaller capacity. If the private companies that operate freight can't be convinced to reconfigure their trains, maybe the state can use imminent domain powers.

[@jackgrimaldi8685]

Why wouldn't it continue up into the Bronx?

[@durece100]

Don't rush.

[@Aceve14]

Maybe we can save that for Phase 2.

[@amazing50000]

If it is built as a Light Rail it is not going to happen, because the new Metro North Penn Access being built in The East Bronx, Amtrak & Freight will have to use the same tracks on the Hell Gate Bridge, and those are Heavy Rail.

[@TheRandCrews]

Because Hells gate is only rated for Metro-North, Amtrak, and Freight. Unless they’ll use more frequent trains and be a commuter service, it is more viable

[@osagiee.guobadia-secondytc4624]

When is the completion of the Interborough Express of the MTA though? : (

[@hamishashcroft3233]

It really needs to be heavy rail. Light rail will be overwhelmed.

[@durece100]

No That's too complex to use heavy rail.

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

@@durece100 "Complex"?! That Bay Ridge branch of the LIRR once hosted passenger rail equipment much heavier than the subway cars in use at that time; it'd be NO TROUBLE AT ALL to reinstall subway-like equipment on that line, and it'll actually be BETTER, since it could be physically connected tomother subway lines, unlike a light rail line....

[@billjoang]

What about the freight line ? I thought the city wants to get trucks off the road.

[@mantis_monk]

Sheesh...About phuking time bro...This is huge!

[@bobbyswanson3498]

5.5 billion dollars for surface running light rail on existing tracks? seriously?

[@cybersquire]

Good to see some foreword motion on this. i hope to see it extend to the BX in my lifetime.

[@stefano3202]

2027? Yeah right. And 5.5 billion for light rail is absurd

[@Frankieefootballmundial]

I think it will be built by 2040

[@TheRandCrews]

While Montreal is currently building a light metro system with 23.4 miles of new track + 18.6 miles of former electrified commuter rail tracks with redesigned the current tunnel for 5.0B USD converted. 5.5B for 14 miles is truly mental.

[@stefano3202]

@@TheRandCrews let’s not forget that the Montreal REM is also planned to be fully automated and fully grade separated. New York needs to get its shit together in terms of constructing affordable and high quality mass transit systems. Second ave subway and grand central madison should never have costed that much or taken that long

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

@@stefano3202 Blame the unions, and that tough Manhattan schist.

[@Dislynn]

I like how they used NJ Transit HBLR as the thumbnail about MTA BQX

[@mikevanriel7573]

Not so fast my friends. The Queens graveyard could put Hochul’s Interborough Express six feet under

[@floydbelljr.2119]

This new commuter line sounds like a great idea, but I think this should be extended to the Bronx to make the IBX service even better. And we should have 2 train tracks on each side. One track from Brooklyn to the Bronx & the other from the Bronx to Brooklyn. The future of New York transportation grows stronger! 🍎🗽🚇🚃🛤🛤👷‍♂👷‍♀

[@jayhpaq]

Why not just add another subway line? Not sure why it has to be light rail.

[@durece100]

You never ride a light rail before.

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

@@durece100 Subway equipment for this line would make MUCH MORE SENSE. This line could be physically connected to other subway lines, rather than plug along as some stand-alone rail line....

[@cogerle]

Build it

[@peichenchang2841]

Light rail? It should be subway.

[@durece100]

Using a subway line like BMT(B- division)and IRT(A-division) is rather complex, more property, and difficult, it won't fit though the tunnels where the freight trains are. Light Rail is a better choice.

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

@@durece100 As if you DIDN'T know that the line once supported heavy LIRR passenger equipment....

[@js1031]

Doesn't the MTA own most of the land they need for this already?

[@aqua2poweros699]

Well the bay ridge branch (where the IBX is running) is owned by freight and formerly owned by the Lirr. The MTA has some property there but I believe there will be one section where it would not run through mta or freight property

[@reezdog]

Hopefully it will also go to the Bronx.

[@tisuksp3191]

Another idea is to open smalls ports just to go across the east river

[@TheRandCrews]

The point of Interborough express is to help commuters move between the outer boroughs without having to go to Manhattan or be faster than a bus. What does opening up small ports for ferries is supposed to do with that.

[@flamingoLake]

he is probably talking about the freight trains@@TheRandCrews

[@vvveeva]

Imagine if all the wasted funds during past 2 ys were monorited this could have funded this project 5x’s

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

Just imagine all the money now wasted on stuperhighways no one needs being pumped into what the region REALLY needs: RAIL-BASED PUBLIC TRANSIT.

[@brooklynbri7572]

Wasn't it supposed to Go to the Bronx

[@eriklakeland3857]

Absolute nonsense to have the street running section instead of a tiny tunnel. That will ruin the reliability and speed of the line.

[@FalconsEye58094]

Should there be much concern about noise? I mean you’re still gonna be in New York City

[@tastyorange]

Light rail is very quiet. You can barely hear it. And it's clean. They want to waste more money by doing an unnecessary study. Government doing what they do best; waste money.

[@erikgustafson9319]

It shluld be regional rail

[@kariminalo979]

IBX should be heavy rail, this is a bad investment. The MTA should reconsider their efforts in this project.

[@pearl_kill_Gaming]

They are doing an environmental review on land that has no environment. Thye are worried about noise and pollution. im over her like, HAVE YOU SEEEN CARS!?

[@snowyyyyyyyyyyyyy]

if the review ends up saying "this will be less noisy than cars" and "this is better for the environment than cars" that's a GOOD thing. more information is always good to have

[@EbuzzNYC]

I would guess that it's to apply for Federal monies credit, but I'm not sure.

[@ebarteldes]

Yet Staten Island continues being ignored. We have the tracks and long-delayed promises to revive the South Shore rail.. and yet nothing happens.

[@thehypnoticdog6682]

It’s not called the forgotten borough for nothing

[@ebarteldes]

@@thehypnoticdog6682 sadly

[@Sosski]

It’s because some ppl in staten island keep voting against it bc they don’t want the boro to densify. Make sure you go to community board outreach and make your voice heard

[@ebarteldes]

Thank you, will keep it in mind@@Sosski

[@amazing50000]

They should, also other abandoned right of ways across the city, like in The South Bronx that goes across town up there. The MTA should just make a new division called "MTA New York City Light Rail" or something and just build "The Interborough Express", "South Shore Line", "Bronx Crosstown / Port Morris Line" and others. New York City needs it.

[@AIRRAZOR44]

It should be heavy rail & goes to The Bronx. No excuses

[@thomasgrabkowski8283]

Would’ve been better if it was a subway line

[@iancarisi8342]

5.5 billion = 11

[@Gamer_Horse]

No love for Staten Island

[@ericsgotlegs]

This should just be another subway. Why is it light rail?

[@Gfynbcyiokbg8710]

Because a subway would require a very short new tunnel which the MTA are too cheap to build

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

@@Gfynbcyiokbg8710 It isn't a matter of being "too cheap"; NIMBYism is quite the social disease going around these days!

[@Gfynbcyiokbg8710]

@@user-dj7wv5ok2x no this is just them being too cheap. They chose against the tunneled options without even asking the cemetary if it had any objections

[@Gfynbcyiokbg8710]

@@user-dj7wv5ok2x no this is just them being too cheap

[@joerusso4219]

They are saying it will be ready by 2027, more like 2034.

[@tonynelson2443]

But why light rail? The tracks are already there!! Smh what a waste!

[@durece100]

Light Rail is better and reliable and fast accelerate and decelerate. Using a Heavy Rail is difficult, challenging, and complex. So, the MTA don't want use it.

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

@@durece100 WRONG! A few corporate decisions were made, out of the public view, between the MTA and certain railcar manufacturers. A maker of LRVs came out as the lowest bidder, and now the city's UNFORTUNATELY stuck with a Toonerville trolley, when they could've had a great SUBWAY LINE which could've been connefted to other lines, and even driven in a tunnel under the Narrows to Staten Island!

[@starburst23]

Light rail NEVER works for long distance, too slow, ask Denver's RTD.

[@SoloJedi_]

This will take 10-15 years of construction. Why don’t just fix the current horrific subway lines

[@Chris-po9lk]

the connections would improve time so much

[@Thelastairbendy]

one can chew gum and walk

[@TheRandCrews]

Because this is a line that doesn’t go to downtown, it’s an orbital route compared to most subways being a radial route to Manhattan. Then it also connects to several subway lines in outer boroughs would be faster than any buses doing a similar service

[@tastyorange]

It's something that's been needed.

[@drkimoni5011]

SAD WHEN CHINA GOT BRAND NEW SUBWAY SYSTEM !

[@jabgaming2592]

No cares while watching this.

[@TheRandCrews]

China got standardized designs for rolling stock, and 4 types for different roles unlike almost every subway system in the US running different types of trains due to being built in different generations

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

@@TheRandCrews And virtually ALL those designs are similar to FREIGHT CARS....

[@stickynorth]

Get it done already! LRT is a great technology that is woefully underused across the world...

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

And do you know just WHY?! Too much inteference from street running.

[@bigzclipz5104]

I had this been in East Asia or the middle east it would get done quickly.

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

Because in THOSE countries, the government owns the people.

[@BFG_10G]

Public hearing? That means they will have to wait more years? Why give false hope?

[@DJXcalibur]

Connecting the hipster areas of Brooklyn and Queens. Areas outside of that will still have that same commute as before. These are the places that actually need this type of project!

[@Sosski]

Are you so deluded that you think Flatbush Canarsie ENY and Brownsville are hipster?

[@EbuzzNYC]

Not really, this is using existing line of way, so that it's not really necessary to buy much land. This is mostly rarely used rail lines that goes up all the way to the Bronx.

[@DJXcalibur]

@@EbuzzNYC none of what you said has any relevance to what I stated! Smh

[@EbuzzNYC]

You're complaining about it serving "hipsters" and do you realize how much more a "clean" line would be to realize? It would cost 10x what we're paying for this due to high land acquisition, this is already land owned by the government. To have it serve your "deserving" areas would make the project unaffordable. You're irrelevant, go eat some cake. @@DJXcalibur

[@flamingoLake]

because brooklyn and queens are dense enough to necesitate this kind of project

[@mitch4527]

It’ll never be built.

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

I suppose there's ALWAYS gotta be one naysayer....

[@slapshot68]

N guess who’s paying for it

[@drkimoni5011]

TWO PARTY SYSTEM ! ONE SAY SPEND AND THE OTHER SAID NO = NOTHING GET DONE !

[@TheMiddlest]

It's so ridiculous that rail projects have to undergo environmental reviews

[@johnnyfive1412]

How is this getting funded? The MTA claims they need to tax drivers due to funding issues, so where this $5B coming from?

[@localnyraccoon]

FINALLY. I love light rail. It's so good and very enjoyable. Literally any other country has it and I don't get why we didn't get this sooner. Means less cars driving on the road and less traffic, pollution and car accidents. Everyone benefits.

[@EbuzzNYC]

I think the issue seems to be that the service will be highly used, and maybe the system won't be able to handle the projected ridership. Also, we already have subway trains, so seems to be easier to connect to the existing infrastructure. I think the big issue is that it's not going on to the BX so it has less need to be heavy gauge.

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

Light rail means new maintenance and training facilities; this would be an ongoing added expense that would've been avoided just by building the IBX as a SUBWAY LINE.

[@redbananagreen]

Real estate and rent prices along the lines are going to skyrocket even more. 😢

[@WHSugarman]

We already have an interborough line. It’s called the G train.

[@clays32]

The g train runs on the very west side of Brooklyn. The ibx would connect mostly on the south eastern side of Brooklyn where canarsie would be!

[@durece100]

That's a Crosstown line.

[@ebarteldes]

True!

[@Frankieefootballmundial]

@@clays32but not northern queens

[@Thelastairbendy]

is it express?

[@trainrover]

you'd have supposed the big apple falling for robo shuttles, not this mighty lemon fancied by these shamelessly cleptoparasitic corporateers featured just as front & center here...

[@AustinSersen]

Americans are great at creating processes...not great at creating infrastructure. My golly, if they spent half of the effort actually building things than they do creating processes, they'd have the best public transportation system in the world. Instead, they're losing to what they call third world countries.

[@lalakerspro]

We have the. best road system in the world

[@AustinSersen]

@@lalakerspro Maybe in some metrics, but vehicles miles travelled per capita is not a statistic you want to lead the world in. Especially daily driving over what used to be marginalized communities...that were literally bulldozed to make way for the Interstates. It's not right. Oh, and the 40,000 Americans that die every year on the roads and tens of thousands more hospitalized. Quite the system you have there, that's literally crumbling in many cases because the richest country in the world can't afford to maintain it.

[@lalakerspro]

@@AustinSersen usually people who die in driving accidents are unfit to drive. Regardless, personal freedoms allow us to use whatever vehicles we like to transport ourselves

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

@@lalakerspro BIGGEST WASTE OF MONEY IN TRANSPORTATION HISTORY!!

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

@@lalakerspro Bowever, the automobile was sold as a package of LIES....

[@richard09able]

It’ll never happen, mark my words.

[@JermaniBurroughs]

It’s gonna take time just like Grand Central Madison, The second Avenue subway phase 1. Mark my words too

[@KcarlMarXs]

It should be heavy rail. Light rail is pure stupidity

[@durece100]

Light rail isn't a stupid idea.

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

@@durece100 When you end up having to build all new maintenance and training facilities, it IS a stupid idea.

[@Boypogikami132]

Bullshit. Light rail does NOT fit the description of the Interborough *EXPRESS*

[@pizzajona]

If this actually gets built by 2027, then it definitely makes sense to have gone with light rail over heavy rail which would’ve been at least 2037 most likey

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

And then having to build all new maintenance facilities and training centers would end up being a HUGE ongoing expense.

[@Jay-nk6dm]

The light rail in Jersey City sucks. It’s slow, infrequent, and capacity is bad. Using light rail for this project Is stupid short sightedness

[@tastyorange]

I used it once, recently... and I was impressed.

[@durece100]

Light Rail isn't stupid. I don't know why do you need Heavy rail for no reason.

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

@@durece100 Well, just WHAT reason is there for light rail?! You know the infrastructure for heavy rail is already in place in NYC; it's STUPID having to build facilities for ADDED infrastructure, as the builders of the JFK Airport shuttle discovered....

[@TheZarq2009]

This will be canceled to pay for he migrants!!!!!!!!

[@chunhchan]

More like 2037

[@damianfitzpatrick3465]

If trains really want to get people to where they want to be faster they need the cars to drive out onto the track and attach to the train while it is in motion. How many billions need to be spent to make a train go 200 mph rather than autonomously decoupling to achieve the same end to end time of a train that stops at every stop. Or worse not stopping where you need to stop. This isn't even to mention the ridiculousness of trying to load kids on a train as fast as possible. It will never compare to cars for sheer speed and efficiency for the user.😊

[@user-dj7wv5ok2x]

Cars (as well as buses and trucks) suffer from traffic jams and red lights; trains have LITTLE to NO trouble with either..... And you say cars are "more efficient"?!

[@drkimoni5011]

LADY YOU BE DEAD AND ME BY THE TIME ITS FINISHED 2090 THE MOST !